This year, the annual Victoria Grandmothers for Africa Cycle Tour fundraiser celebrates its 20th anniversary and hopes to raise $200,000 that will go towards ending AIDS in Africa.
The funding is given to the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, where grandmother groups in Africa are using funds to put an end to AIDS.
According to organizers, when Victoria Grandmothers for Africa started 20 years ago, the group was comprised of just a few passionate women.
Since that time, it has grown and flourished into a group of 166 members who sell crafts, give presentations, run African dinner and art fundraisers and most importantly, cycle.
By banding together to make a difference, they have raised an impressive $2.5 million since 2006.
This year, participating cyclists will ride from August 9th to September 13th. Women aged 55 and older are eligible, with women in their 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s participating on road bikes, e-bikes, stationary bikes and even a penny farthing lent by Fairfield Bicycles.
Cyclists count the kilometers as they ride, either in groups or on their own, for the five weeks of the cycle tour.
Organizers say that when older women are asked why they cycle with Victoria Grandmothers for Africa, the answer is often, “They’re such a great group of women!”
One granny cyclist, Jane Carroll, rides an e-bike which she says offers fabulous rehab for her knees and hips.
“When I’m out on the bike, I’m just so happy! Everything is possible,” said Carroll. “We all have our griefs, and my friendship with these extraordinary women lifts me up.”
Another cyclist, Laurie Wilson, says she joined for the cycling but slowly came to understand why the group fundraises for grandmothers in Africa.
“I like it when it feels hard. I feel more solidarity with African grandmothers then, because their whole life is so hard,” said Wilson.
She added that meeting two grandmothers from Africa clinched Laurie’s commitment to the cause.
“Now I admire them so much—they sing and dance with so much joy! They are truly amazing—I don’t think the rest of the world knows that,” said Wilson.
Christine Scott has been riding with Victoria Grandmothers for Africa since 2008. Now, she has completed the Campbell River to Victoria Ride 18 times.
“It was an opportunity for me to push myself,” she noted. “But at the same time raise significant money for less privileged grandmothers in Africa. I have so many more resources than they do for caring for their grandchildren.”
With the 20th Annual Grandmothers for Africa Cycle Tour starting in less than a month, the group of grannies is inviting any and all women over the age of 55 to join them.
For those who can’t partake in the ride, they ask for donations to help them reach their goal of raising $200,000 this year.
Donations can be made online via the Victoria Grandmothers for Africa website.
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